The first was on 31 October 1908. A goods train from Aintree ran out of control on the gradient between Royton Junction and Royton Station. It crashed into an empty train at Royton. The fireman of the goods train was killed, and the driver severely injured.[2]

The second was at around 6:12 am on 8 February 1961 when the driver of a diesel multiple-unit passenger train lost control on the gradient down to Royton Station. The train was being run empty, although there was one railway employee on board as a passenger. Neither the passenger nor the train guard was injured. The driver of the train was slightly injured when he leapt from the cab of the train just before it collided with the buffer stop at Royton. The train came to rest 30 yards beyond the buffer stop, crossing High Barn Street and crashing into some houses. Three houses were slightly damaged, and two severely damaged. No fatal or severe injuries to the public resulted in these two houses since one of them was a lock up shop, and in the other the occupants were upstairs at the time. Five people from the damaged houses were however taken to hospital suffering from shock and bruises, and in one case also a fractured clavicle. All were eventually discharged.[3]